City Council

(10) 26-1248 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT relative to emergency preparedness, storm response, and post-recovery efforts for El Nino or other storm related emergencies. Recommendations for Council action, as initiated by Motion (Hernandez – McOsker): 1. INSTRUCT the Bureau of Street Services (BSS), Bureau of Sanitation, Bureau of Engineering, Bureau of Contract Administration, and Bureau of Street Lighting to provide a verbal report to Council on the emergency preparedness, storm response, and post-recovery efforts for El Niño or other storm related emergencies, including: a. Crew deployment and reassignment strategies, emergency dispatch teams, and overtime availability for emergency preparedness, storm response, and post- recovery efforts related to heavy rainfall and storm-related emergencies, including, but not limited to, street flooding, fallen trees, and mudslides; inspection, maintenance, and debris clearance of catch basins, storm drains, and drainage channels; response to damaged street lighting infrastructure, including downed or struck poles, exposed wires, conduit damage, hanging fixtures, and open covers; sand and sandbag inventory, deployment, and distribution plans; hillside stability and mudslide preparedness, including inspections of vulnerable areas and emergency response protocols; and assessment of the structural integrity of bridges, tunnels, municipal buildings, and other critical public infrastructure. b. Emergency response intake and coordination protocols, including how storm-related emergency requests are received, prioritized, assigned, and tracked from 311, the Mayor's Office, Council Offices, and other City departments. c. Recommendations and best practices for residents and businesses to prepare for heavy rainfall, flooding, mudslides, and other storm-related hazards. d. Public information on accessing emergency and non- emergency services, including relevant phone numbers, online resources, and sandbag locations. 2. INSTRUCT the Public Works Bureaus, with assistance from the City Administrative Officer (CAO), to periodically prepare post- storm reports following the El Niño or other emergency rainstorm events, including work performed and emergency response activities undertaken, storm-related 311 service requests received and addressed, outstanding service requests and response activities, and damage to the public right-of-way, including identified repair and restoration needs. 3. INSTRUCT the BSS, in consultation with the Los Angeles Fire Department, to identify at least two fire stations and/or any other public locations per Council District to provide sand and sandbags, and report with the identified locations and a public outreach plan. 4. INSTRUCT the Emergency Management Department, in consultation with the Public Works Bureaus, to report on a public notification strategy to inform impacted residents of available resources and services in advance of significant storm events, including opportunities to expand the scale and reach of existing outreach, potential technology improvements, and the staffing and resources necessary for implementation. Fiscal Impact Statement: Neither the City Administrative Officer nor the Chief Legislative Analyst has completed a financial analysis of this report.